timing light

[fekbmax]

so my old antique EQUUS timing light took a dump on me. i borrowed 2 different timing lights, (both in expensive) and both are to sensitive for my MSD . anyone have any suggestions on a reasonably priced timing light that works without issue or am i gonna haveta spring for a $160 - $200 timing light ?

[machoneman]

Nope! Have had MSD's on lots of engines over the years. Modern ones really don't work here. Cruise E-Bay, wherever, for one of those old, heavy-chromed bodied, Sears, J.C. Penney or other make that's non-dial back. They work like a champ with MSD's. No foolin!

[thatdarncat]

Yup, I still have my old Sears timing light, works fine with the MSD. Check your local Craigslist and online auction sites, Sears sold tons of them. MSD used to publish a list of timing lights that worked.

[preaction]

My sears model is a dial back and it works well.

[fekbmax]

Thats what my old EQUUS was, one of those old heavy chrome deals. Buddy of mine has a MSD timing light but hes outa town till the 2nd of August  .

[Stangman]

Not sure what you mean by the timing light not working I have a digital snap on I guess it's 20 years old but it works fine. Is that not the norm

[Yellow Truck]

I bought a cheap Innova electronic light, and I had some doubts about it because every time I check my engine the timing had shifted by 5 to 10 degrees. This was on the old Motorcraft distributor. Had a friend bring over his old Snap-On light and it turned out the timing WAS jumping around. Only issue I had was the Innova had a dial on it so you could set the advance - I assume this is if you had a TDC mark and nothing else so you could dial in 15 degrees advance and when it was showing TDC you were at 15 degrees. The dial kept falling off and when it didn't fall off you had a tendency to accidentally dial in some adjustment. I glued it down to solve both problems.

Then I put on the MSD 6AL box and was told it probably wouldn't work because of the multi spark thing. Seems to have worked fine, right up to the point where the MSD took a dump.

[fryedaddy]

i have a new light.it has a arrow pointing to the spark plug on the plug wire clamp.be sure to put the clamp on the right direction.i noticed it is real sensitive.very hard to set unless you barely move it.i like it that way though

[Heo]

I bought a cheap Innova electronic light, and I had some doubts about it because every time I check my engine the timing had shifted by 5 to 10 degrees. This was on the old Motorcraft distributor. Had a friend bring over his old Snap-On light and it turned out the timing WAS jumping around. Only issue I had was the Innova had a dial on it so you could set the advance - I assume this is if you had a TDC mark and nothing else so you could dial in 15 degrees advance and when it was showing TDC you were at 15 degrees. The dial kept falling off and when it didn't fall off you had a tendency to accidentally dial in some adjustment. I glued it down to solve both problems.

Then I put on the MSD 6AL box and was told it probably wouldn't work because of the multi spark thing. Seems to have worked fine, right up to the point where the MSD took a dump.

I bought an Innova now says it multispark compatible so lets see if

[cjshaker]

Keith, have you taken it apart to see if there is anything obviously wrong with it? If you know anyone who messes with electronics, it might be worth taking it to them. It might be a cheap fix.

I have 2 older Sears units, one a standard, one a dial-back, and they both have always worked ok for me. I think it's the newer electronics that are used in them that don't play so well with MSD stuff. Never had any issue with the older ones.

[Yellow Truck]

I bought a cheap Innova electronic light, and I had some doubts about it because every time I checked my engine the timing had shifted by 5 to 10 degrees. This was on the old Motorcraft distributor. Had a friend bring over his old Snap-On light and it turned out the timing WAS jumping around. Only issue I had was the Innova had a dial on it so you could set the advance - I assume this is if you had a TDC mark and nothing else so you could dial in 15 degrees advance and when it was showing TDC you were at 15 degrees. The dial kept falling off and when it didn't fall off you had a tendency to accidentally dial in some adjustment. I glued it down to solve both problems.

Then I put on the MSD 6AL box and was told it probably wouldn't work because of the multi spark thing. Seems to have worked fine, right up to the point where the MSD took a dump.

[Falcon67]

I use an older C-man dial back.  Supposedly those don't work on high zoot ignitions like the MSD 7AL-3 but I've not had any problems with it.  Except that the harness plug falls out after you get fully contorted over a fender ready to shoot the timing tab.  Dang it!

[machoneman]

Duct tape is your pal! LOL